Improved self-rocking cradle



N. PETERS. PHorO-UTHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAvID WALKER, oF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVED SELF-ROCKING CRADLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 34,535, dated February25, 1862.

.transverse section through the stops, the end of the cradle being shownin elevation. Fig. 4 is a separate view of the fan or ily-brush.

The same part is marked by the same letter of reference in all thefigures.

The nature of my invention consistsin iinprovements in the mechanism forimparting motion to the cradle, in attaching a fan or iiy-brush to it tobe operated by the motion of the cradle, and in regulating the amount ofmotion by means ot' stops, all as hereinafter set forth and shown.

To enable others to make and use my iin-- proved cradle, I will proceedto describe its construction and operation.

The frame-Work ofv the cradle maybe of the form shown in Fig. l, or ofany other that may be found suitable. That partV of the cradle whichholds the bed is suspended in the frame from two pivots, so as tooscillate after the manner of a pendulum in obedience to an adequateimpulse. This impulse is given by a clock-spring acting through anescapement in the same manner that a clockpendulum is actuated. I have,however, made an improvement in the common clockwork to adapt it to thepeculiar conditions of the function it has here to perform by providingthe balanced pallets a with relief guides or gages c, which guide thepallets into the teeth of the escapement-wheel b when the pallets aremovingin one direction and allow them to rise out of contact with thoseteeth when moving in the opposite direction. This device is an essentialfeature :in my invention, as without it no cradle would operate a daywithout being broken, as the pallets would catch on the points of theteeth of the escapement-wheel as soon as the power of the spring becameexhausted and the motion of the wheel slackened. The guides o arepivoted at d and adjusted by means of the rods g g, by which their freeends are supported and held in place. They control the movements of thepallets by means of pins projecting laterally from the latter andworking in contact with the under surfaces of the guides, as seen inFig. 2.

To the frame at the head of the cradle I attach a standard s, from whichprojects an arm l to support the fan. Under this arm is pivoted the rodm, from which project-downward the vside rods k, which support the fanor {1y-brush r. At right angles to rod fm, is attached a cross-lever n,to the ends `of Which cords o are fastened, which, after being crossed,as shown in Figs. l and 4, are tied to the posts p at the upper cornersof the cradle. By this arrangement the oscillation of the cradle impartsa corresponding motion to the fan.

Stops h and e on the cradle and frame, respectively, prevent the cradlefrom swinging too far for the comfort and safety of its occupant.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The construction and arrangement, substantially as described, of therelief-guides c, in combination with pallets aand escapementwheel b, inthe manner set forth and for the purpose specified, when used in aself-rocking cradle constructed as hereinbefore described.

2. In combination with a self-rocking cradle constructed as described,the stops e and h, constructed and arranged as and for the purposedescribed.'

8. In combination with a self-rockin g cradle constructed as described,the automatic fan 7a n m fr, constructed and arranged as described andshown and operated by the movement of the cradle in the mannerspecified.

The above specification signed and Witnessed this 5th day of February,A. D. 1862.

DAVID WALKER.

Witnesses:

WM. B. GRovER, GEORGE S. WALKER.

